Donte’ Stallworth on return to Patriots: ‘I have a lot of love for this organization’

Donte’ Stallworth was actually in Miami with friends on Sunday afternoon and decided to take in the Patriots-Dolphins game.

“I was actually there,” said Stallworth Wednesday. “I went, since I live in Miami, and I hadn’t been to any games in a while. I had some friends that were going. I usually like to watch games on television, you can see it better. But I decided to go since I hadn’t been to any games. Plus it was the Patriots playing, and I’ve got friends on both teams.”

As word spread that Julian Edelman injured his foot during the game, he figured he might get a call to return to New England for third time.

Stallworth got on a plane and flew up to New England on Monday, the same day the decision was made to place Edelman on season-ending injured reserve with a broken foot. was released in training camp, making this his third stint with the Patriots, after spending an entire season in New England in 2007.

“I think [the Patriots] knew what kind of shape I was in,” Stallworth said. “I made sure that I had been training hard throughout the whole season, just in case.”

But what was the specific appeal of coming back to New England?

“I have a lot of love for this organization, and just everything about the New England Patriots,” he said on Wednesday. “I have a lot of friends on this team. So, yeah, to say I was excited is probably an accurate assessment.

“We had a quarterback able to get us the ball and be able to work on our routes and stuff, full speed.”

Stallworth thought he had a good shot of making this team originally out of training camp before being cut on Aug. 27.

“Honestly, I mean, I was disappointed, but I’ve been in this league long enough to understand how it works,” Stallworth said. “It’s just like after a game. When you lose a game and you’re upset about it that night, but you come to the next game prepared. And that’s what I did, although, it took me a little more than a night. It took a few days. But after that I just tried to get back to where I live in Miami and get back with my trainer, and just continue to work and hope for an opportunity.”

And he’s back working for an opportunity with Bill Belichick once again.

“One of his favorite motto’s is just, ‘Do your job.’ And If I do my job, then I don’t have anything else to worry about after that,” Stallworth said.